After an upcoming California gubernatorial debate opted to host six candidates, the remaining candidates slammed the decision Friday, saying the “rigged” formula is robbing them of an opportunity to address Californians.
Organizers behind the debate said they used “an independent and objective” formula to decide which candidates are most viable. According to the results, Democratic candidate Tom Steyer was in first place, followed by ex-Fox News host Steve Hilton, then Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
The criteria, developed by USC professor Christian Grose, determined that ex-Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, ex-LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former State Controller Betty Yee, California Superintendent Tony Thurman do not meet the threshold because of their “lower polling and fundraising scores.”
“This smells like someone’s cooking the books,” Becerra said, arguing Grose’s formula prioritizes candidates who entered the race later. “You get penalized for being on the campaign trail because your fundraising numbers are divided by the number of days you’ve been out there campaigning in front of voters.”
The criteria does factor in time that each candidate has been in the race since declaring candidacy.
“We ask each and every candidate who is in this race to recognize that if we can’t have a fair process for a debate, then we should all not participate,” Becerra said.
Villaraigosa also condemned the new formula as he argued that none of the candidates had seen it before.
“You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game,” Villaraigosa said. “This was supposed to be based on polling and money raised. Some of us have been able to raise more money and are higher in the polls than a candidate who was invited.”
The chosen candidate that the former LA mayor had a problem with is Mahan.
“The rules initially were polling and money. Matt Mahan is lower than some of us, period,” Villaraigosa said.
The left-out gubernatorial hopefuls pointed out that all four uninvited candidates happen to be people of color.
“We are a minority majority state and the idea that the four candidates of color are not going to be on the stage to bring those perspectives to really speak to those communities is really not doing right by the voters,” Yee said.
Despite the California Democratic Party chair’s plea for low-performing candidates to drop out to avoid splitting up votes, resulting in two Republican candidates advancing to the run-off, none of the four candidates said whether they would suspend the campaign.
“The reality is that no candidate is polling in a majority in this race. This race is wide open, Thurman said.
In response, USC said it “categorically, unequivocally deny any allegations” that the formula was skewed to favor certain candidates, standing by its conclusion.
“We have had in-depth discussions about expanding the debate’s format; however, there is a significant gap between the top six candidates and the seventh, eighth and ninth placed candidates,” the school said in a statement. “It simply would not be fair or feasible to invite every candidate in such a crowded field.”
It was not immediately clear whether any of the chosen candidates would heed the call and skip next Tuesday’s debate.